International Factory Deployment Engineer

Job description

ABOUT US Harmattan AI is a next-generation defense prime building autonomous and scalable defense systems. Following the close of a $200M Series B, valuing the company at $1.4 billion, we are expanding our teams and capabilities to deliver mission-critical systems to allied forces. Our work is guided by clear values: building technologies with real-world impact, pursuing excellence in everything we do, setting ambitious goals, and taking on the hardest technical challenges. We operate in a demanding environment where rigor, ownership, and execution are expected. ABOUT THE ROLE The Industrial Engineer for International Factory Deployment leads the physical standup of Harmattan AI factories at international sites — translating the company's proven factory blueprint into operational production sites, on time and to standard. Working from the Wissous reference factory, you will own the full deployment arc: site preparation, equipment commissioning, process deployment, and production-ready handover. Assignments run three to twelve months. This is a senior, autonomous, project-delivery role requiring deep industrial engineering expertise and comfort with the complexity of international defence programmes. Reports to the Head of Production & SCM. RESPONSIBILITIES Factory Deployment & Standup - Lead end-to-end deployment of the Harmattan AI factory blueprint — from site assessment through to production-ready handover - Translate standardised factory design (layout, equipment, processes, tooling, workflows) into a functioning local operation, adapting for site constraints without compromising output standards - Manage equipment installation, commissioning, and qualification in coordination with Harmattan AI engineering and local partners - Establish manufacturing processes, work instructions, and quality controls aligned with the reference factory standard - Oversee integration of ERP, MES, and traceability systems at the deployment site Offset & Industrial Partnership Execution - Operate within military offset agreement obligations — local content requirements, technology transfer scope, and contractual deliverables - Coordinate with local industrial partners and government stakeholders to ensure factory deployment meets offset milestones - Build local engineering capability and transfer knowledge as required by offset and industrial participation obligations - Document and report on offset credit activities and production readiness gates in formats required by the contracting authority Operational Readiness & Handover - Define and execute a structured production readiness programme — equipment qualification, process validation, operator training, and first-article runs - Establish local maintenance routines, spare parts inventory, and operating procedures to sustain production after handover - Conduct formal readiness reviews and sign-off against the Harmattan AI factory standard - Capture lessons learned and feed structured improvement back into the factory blueprint for future deployments HQ Coordination - Act as the primary interface between the deployment site and Harmattan AI HQ — structured progress reporting, escalation, and coordination of remote engineering support - Support commercial and programme teams during pre-contract site assessments and deployment feasibility studies RESPONSIBILITIES Essential - Degree in industrial engineering, manufacturing engineering, or related technical field - Minimum seven years of industrial engineering experience in aerospace, defence, advanced electronics, or similarly regulated manufacturing - Demonstrated factory standup experience — greenfield or brownfield — including equipment commissioning, process deployment, and production readiness - Familiarity with military offset agreements, industrial participation obligations, or technology transfer programmes in a defence context - Proven ability to operate autonomously on international assignments with limited local infrastructure - Fluent English; French, Arabic, or other deployment-region languages a strong advantage Preferred - Experience replicating a factory from a reference template or blueprint - Working knowledge of ERP/MES systems (Odoo or equivalent) in a deployment context - Exposure to NATO STANAG standards, ITAR, or equivalent defence compliance frameworks - Lean manufacturing, one-piece flow, and production ramp methodologies We look forward to hearing how you can help shape the future of autonomous defense systems at Harmattan AI.